Holiday Gift Guide for Dads

Dad. Daddy. Poppa. Pops. Whatever his name, we’ve gathered up some of our favorite gifts for dads this holiday season.

Man on the Go.

The jetsetter. The multitasker. Whether hes hopping between New York and New Delhi or business meetings and his daughters ballet recital, this man needs products that can keep up with him.

I love the simple yet sophisticated style of this SOT Satellite Sling bag (1). It’s rugged enough for the park or trail, big enough to hold your tablet and DSLR, and sleek enough for staying stylish around town.

Perfect for the frequent traveler or ensuring a smooth face when he meets you for dinner straight from the office, the ShaveTech compact razor (2) is small but mighty and easily recharges in any USB port.

The new iriver ON (3) can help dads fit in that 20 minute workout on the way home from work – and make it count. The device is one part headphone, one part health monitor. He can listen to his favorite music or even take a call while the iriver ON monitors his heart rate, distance, speed, calories burned and more. The built-in fitness trainer will help keep his heart rate in the zone while the iriver app will store and graph all his fitness data to track his progress.

True, its likely his smart phone reminding him of his appointments and agenda items, but when he goes to check the time, give him something stunning to show off like this new Tissot T-Sport Titanium Chronograph Watch (4).

Moving around a lot shouldn’t make you sacrifice your sound quality. The new Mini Jambox from Jawbone (5) pumps out big sound via Bluetooth or 3.5mm input in a cool, compact package. Perfect for the home gym, corner office, or garage.

If he wants to keep his music contained, the Velodyne’s vFree On Ear Bluetooth Headphones (6) provide crystal clear sound sans wires. Plus they fold up for easy storage and can be customized with Velodyne’s swapable skins.

Plan the Powerpoint. Skype with the kids. Manage his music. Catch up on the big game. The man on the go needs a tablet that can do everything he needs for work, family, and play. The new Microsoft Surface2 Pro (7) give him the convenience of a tablet with the power of a laptop so he can do it all on one device.

Foodie Dad.

Whether he likes to make it or just eat it, here are some of our favorite finds for dads who like food.

Need something to put on the grill? Pine Street Market’s Meat of the Month Club (4) is perfect for the carnivore in your life. For just $50 a month, you’ll get a delicious cut of meat such as cider-brined pork chops or shoulder roast plus a pound of applewood smoked bacon and specialty sausages included every month.

If you man likes to eat food, but isn’t quite so hot making food, get him this guy-friendly primer – Sam the Cooking Guy: Awesome Recipes & Kitchen Shortcuts(5) – which will get him cooking Two-Minute Basil & Roasted Tomato Soup, Pancetta Grilled Asparagus and Smoked Salmon Omelets in no time.

To make sure he has the tools he needs, a specialty knife like this 7 inch Vegetable Knife from Global (6) will remind him how much you love that root veggie stew he makes.

There are a good number of us who have husbands who are really just big kids. Here’s are some gifts sure to satisfied kids of any age.

It’s part robot, part car, and 100% remote control. One of the hottest new toys this year is the Maisto Remote Control Twist and Shoot Vehicle (1) that can drive as a car or with the push of a button, transform into a robot and shoot darts. One may not be enough.

Heard of Tegu? These wooden magnetic building sets (2) are perfect for de-stressing at the office or creating with the kids. Check out all the different sets on sale at Gilt.

I don’t know a single guy whose eyes don’t light up when they pick up a Nerf gun. This new Nerf Vortex Revonix360 Blaster (3) is sure to bring lots of fun to your family. Just be careful the next time you come in the door.

Dad wanting to spend time with the kids, but not sure what exactly…to do? Cooper Kit (4) to the rescue! This subscription kit from Cooper & Kid for dad and kids aged 5-9 arrives with various theme-based projects including a hands-on activity, recipes, a bedtime story and more! Plus it’s shipped in a box that turns into a toy. Brilliant.

Remote control helicopter? Yep – there’s an app for that. The Helo TC Helipcopter from Griffith (5) is guaranteed holiday fun. The helicopter charges via USB, is controlled by your phone, and flies great – once you get the controls down.

Stocking Stuffers.Need a little something to stuff in his stocking? Check out our favorite small picks.

This MacGuyver-esque TaskOne iPhone case (1) not only protects your phone, but comes with 22 built-in tools like a screw driver, bottle opener, and saw blade and weighs just 89 grams.

These new shirts from Sons of Trade (2) will fit perfectly in dad’s stocking. The collection of 6 hand-illustrated designs by artist Ben Blanchard will satisfy any wanderer or wonderer.

A well-groomed beard can make a man. Help yours tame his with this MCMC Beard Oil (3) that contains fresh, spicy, and woody notes as well as organic hemp and jojoba oil.

If your guy is great with the camera, but not so great remembering to download them, the Eye-Fi Mobi memory card (6) is the perfect solution. I like the 16G ProX2 which can wirelessly transfers photos to your computer, tablet or smart phone.

Have a puzzle lover? A modern take on the Rubik cube, the GearShift (7) cube has eight interlocking gears to provide hours of problem-solving fun.

If your guy is a genius with Instagram, give some of his photos life outside of his phone by turning them into magnets with StickyGram (8).

About Kate Bayless

A mom to three boys, Kate Bayless has been assembling, testing out, and writing about children's gear for nearly a decade. An experienced freelance writer and editor in Southern California, Kate also covers parenting, travel, health and beauty for a variety of print and online publications. And lattes. She reviews lots of lattes. Visit her at www.linkedin.com/in/katebayless/.

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